Press Releases

Press Releases 2009

Montreal, December 29, 2009. - The 2010 increase will bring the legal aid eligibility threshold up by 44.8% as compared with 2005 for single individuals who, it bears reminding, represent 73% of the legal aid clientele. In 2005, such individuals were limited to a maximum annual income of $8,870 in order to be eligible for gratuitous legal aid. As of January 1, 2010, these individuals will be permitted to have income of up to $12,844 in order to benefit from gratuitous legal aid and income of up to $18,303 in order to benefit from legal aid under the contributory scheme. The other classes of beneficiaries, namely, one parent with a child (or children) or a couple with or without children, have benefited from an average increase of approximately 27%.

This measure constitutes the fifth consecutive increase since January 26, 2006, and it is coupled with the permanent annual indexation decreed under the regulation adopted to that effect on December 21, 2005. The adoption of these measures put an end to a freeze of over 20 years in the eligibility threshold for single individuals and of 10 years for the other classes of beneficiaries.

Me Denis Roy, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, reminds the public that it is to the advantage of persons who require legal assistance and may be eligible for legal aid to contact the legal aid office closest to their residence in order to confirm such eligibility. “Given the terms and conditions prescribed by the act and the regulations, only legal aid staff can determine your eligibility; it is therefore important to make an appointment with a legal aid lawyer,” stated Me Roy.

The Commission des services juridiques is the agency charged with applying the Legal Aid Act in Québec. Legal aid may be granted to anyone who is financially eligible, in order to cover various legal services involving civil, family, administrative or criminal matters or matters relating to youth law.

The new eligibility scale for services at no cost is as follows:

Category of Applicant : Maximum Annual Income

For a single person : $12,844

For an applicant whose family is comprised of:

one adult and one child : $15,712

one adult and 2 children or + : $16,774

spouses without children : $17,874

spouses with 1 child : $19,998

spouses with 2 children or + : $21,060

According to Me Roy, the contributory scheme offers a unique formula that allows individuals to be represented by a lawyer before the courts while knowing, in advance, the maximum amount of the legal fees and costs. The contributory scheme allows an individual to receive legal services if his or her income, assets and liquidities match the eligibility scales in effect and if the individual pays a contribution ranging from $100 to $800, depending on the person’s situation. The eligibility scale for legal aid under the contributory scheme is as follows:

Category of Applicant : Maximum Annual Income

For a single person : $18,303

For an applicant whose family is comprised of:

one adult and one child : $22,390

one adult and 2 children or + : $23,902

spouses without children : $25,471

spouses with 1 child : $28,497

spouses with 2 children or + : $30,011

For more information, please contact your local legal aid office or visit the Web site of the Commission des services juridiques at: http://www.csj.qc.ca